Train ride through another world...

The train platform (I refuse to call it a station)

[April 25--post #1]

I promised information about the world famous flam railway, touted as the most beautiful train ride in Europe and have decided that now is the best time to give it. We rode the train up the mountains to reach our launch point for the hike on our very first full day in Flam and then got to ride it again when we were leaving Flam headed to Bergen (a much bigger city) on Saturday.

DIS had reserved a whole train car just for us! 

We felt like we were in the Hogwarts Express!

All smiles watching the world fly by

The Railway is constructed of 20km of tracks, winding through and up the mountains. Twenty tunnels, all carved out by hand, span those 20km. Building the tunnels was pretty much the most labor intensive (and probably unrewarding) job I can imagine: it took ONE MONTH to carve out just one meter of space for the track. Still, we are all grateful for the workers who made it possible. It was very practical back in the early 20th century when it was constructed, and now it draws people from all over the world to experience the breathtaking beauty!

Here you can see two levels of the tracks winding back and forth (and can see two of the tunnels) 

We stopped at a GIANT waterfall and were allowed to get out and take a few pictures before continuing on.

Eventually, after what seemed like no time at all, we arrived in Myrdal where we thought we had a 15 minute wait for the next leg of the trip to Bergen. However, when we arrived we learned that not only was the train moved to come 45 minutes later, but it was then said to be delayed for an additional 45 minutes. In all, we found ourselves packed into a tiny train station (exhausted and very hungry) for about an hour and 40 minutes. We did manage to find ways to get comfortable and entertain ourselves. 

Pulling into Myrdal

DIS takes over the train station!

Finally, our train arrived and we all bolted to get on. I was excited to take a nap since the ride was supposed to be two hours long. However, my plans changed quite suddenly and I want to tell you the story of why. I've decided to structure this portion of the post very differently. It's a little lengthy, but takes a different form from previous posts/writing. Read on if you are interested. Rather than embedding the photos into/next to the text, I am placing them below each paragraph in hopes that my goals of taking you on a visual journey will be accomplished. Here is the story of my train ride through another world:

We pulled out of the station and I tried to doze off. A moment later my seatmate shook me awake. I opened my eyes and sat bolt upright. The world I'd seen just a moment ago had be totally transformed as if we'd been dropped in some alternative universe. I frantically snapped photos with my camera through the window, desperate to capture the dramatic and quickly changing scenery. I pushed the play-back button to see how my photos had turned out and was greatly disappointed; an inadequate and poor reflection. Then it hit me, perhaps I could describe what I was seeing with words, if nothing else, than at least to supplement the photos I was taking. Here is what I came up with:

At first, it's a tundra. It looks like a scene out of Narnia or perhaps a documentary about Mt. Everest. There are trees scattered occasionally across the sloped, snowy scene and is even a lone log cabin. The white of the ice on the mountain tops blends almost perfectly in with the clouds, so much so that it's almost difficult to tell where one leaves off and the other begins. We round bend after bend and gradually the scene begins to change: a few more trees (these with green leaves). Still there is mostly snow, ice, and dark rocks peaking out in patches from the white carpeting. More rocks. 

We're flying between the trees. There are rivers flowing very fast, chunks of ice clinging to the side and some (having lost their battle to hang on) are floating down the stream. All the while the tundra mountainside creates a dramatic backdrop. 

We come around a corner and are suddenly riding right besides great rock cliffs that stretch higher than we are (but not even close to as high as the rest of the mountains). Trees (some a light brown and others deep green are growing between the cracks at odd angles. 

We reach a lake, which is frozen, but only just. Running water just beneath the surface of the ice is clearly trying its best to break through and is succeeding better in some places more than others. 

Rolling hills of pale yellow grass with tiny colored cabins dotting their humps appear. Forests of the greenest evergreens built into the mountains with farms also at surprising angles. With every turn we make, there are new white snow and ice capped peaks that appear in the distance. Every once in a while we head into a tunnel that first totally blacks out the scenery, but then becomes wood beamed shutters offering previews of the spectacular views to come. And there we go... wow!

Slowly, very slowly, the forests become thinner and more and more buildings appear. Then, a small factory. Then a strip of several houses. More buildings. A new waterfront. And now we're out of the mountains; we're even with the sea and what has now become a town. 

All the snow and ice are gone, and the white mountains have been replaced by that pale yellow grass on tall rolling hills. We're next to a large body of water. Then back in a forrest. The sun is blinding as I look out the window. 

We've risen in altitude again and there are fewer houses. The ice on the lake is thicker, the trees thinner. Another tunnel. We emerge and very suddenly the ice is gone and the water has made a quick flowing stream. Tall, tall skinny trees with branches starting three-forths of the way up their trunks form dense forests on the banks. More yellow hills. A giant tree. Houses. The water widens. Farm. Houses. More houses. Tunnel. It's a long tunnel. Total darkness. 

I wonder what state of wonder the world will be in when we emerge and the light meets my eyes! For surely, with this much time, we could find ourselves just about anywhere. There's light! The small slots through the boards offer a glimpse, but its gone before you take it in. Back to darkness. I switch seats with my seatmate. I press my face close to the glass and wait with wonder, ready to take in the scene as we fly out of the tunnel...